The New York Giants family is remembering Ray Handley, who passed away at the age of 81. Handley was an important part of the team, first as an assistant coach and later as the head coach.
The Giants organization shared that Rob Handley, a family member, confirmed the news. Details about the cause of death have not been shared.
Handley’s journey with the Giants began in 1984 when he joined the coaching staff as an assistant under Bill Parcells. For seven years, he worked with the team’s running backs, helping the Giants win two Super Bowl championships.
After Parcells retired, Handley was promoted to head coach in 1991.
Taking over from such a successful coach was a challenge. One of Handley’s first big decisions was choosing Jeff Hostetler as the starting quarterback over Phil Simms during training camp in 1991. Simms had been the starter the previous season and played very well, but he got hurt before Hostetler stepped in and led the team to victory in the Super Bowl.
Under Handley, the Giants had an 8-8 record in his first season and a 6-10 record the following year. After the 1992 season, Handley was let go, and Dan Reeves, who had previously coached the Denver Broncos, took over.
Before joining the Giants, Handley was an assistant coach at Army, Stanford, and Air Force. After leaving the Giants, he did not coach again.
Handley’s career in football started as a running back at Stanford University before he became a coach.
The Giants and the football community are now looking back on Handley’s contributions to the sport, remembering his time with the team and his impact on the game. His role in helping the Giants win two Super Bowls will always be remembered by fans and the organization.
